Último día en Ecuador

For our last day, we returned to the indigenous community, Palacio Real. This time, however, we were not getting a tour of the plants and the llama museum (Yes, a llama museum. The llama is an important animal to their people, and we also learned how to speak llama...), but instead we were working with the people to get a glimpse of their daily life. We first fed the guinea pigs and rabbits, before moving on to the bigger animals. As we were walking over, we received a good luck bracelet from the community, made of alpaca. We then helped chop down the agave plants to feed the pigs, cows, sheep, and the llamas. At first, we were just carrying the giant leaves to the feeding area, but then many students got a chance to use the special knife to cut the spines from the leaves, and Mat jumped right in to help cut the larger leaves from the plant. Then, it was bigger knife time, cutting the giant leaves into small pieces for the animals to eat, while others got a donkey ride.

Afterwards, we head down to the community school, where Zac and Monica immediately got "claimed" by a few of the students. We then had time to talk to the kids, ages 7-10, talking about favorite colors, animals, and school subjects. Then, if there was an nervousness or shyness remaining, it disappeared when the fútbol came out. Most kids jumped in to play right away, while a few stayed on the bleachers with me and the other adults, asking to play with our cameras. They were fascinated by the technology and were so careful with the cameras, putting my strap around their necks and sitting next to me just as I asked them to. Needless to say, I think they managed to take around 150 pictures during the soccer game! Thank goodness for digital cameras!

We then head down to the restaurant for lunch and got back in the road for Quito. After a steak and French fry dinner, we were back at the hotel for a few hours sleep before leaving at 3:15 for the airport. After dealing with a long line, we are a few minutes away from boarding. Almost home!

Llama...it's what's for lunch

After breakfast in the hotel, we set out for Palacio Real, an indigenous community where the people work and dress in the same way their people have done for generations. Yes, they had electricity and cars, but the farming, animal care, and cooking are the same as would be found centuries ago. Our guide, Trinidad, arrived with two llamas in hand, giving Monica and Danielle the honor of leading them around on the tour of the community. Though not surprising, it was amazing to hear of the different ways her people use the same plant; nothing goes to waste. Plants are used for food, medicine, drinks, aromatherapy, and more. We also found it interesting that, although our cultures differ, some things remain the same. Instead of a four leaf clover, they look for a tiny white flower with five or more petals. They also have a special yellow flower, which girls pluck off petals, saying, "Me quiere...no me quiere...me quiere...no me quiere," hoping that the last petal would be "Me quiere." We then had lunch at the community where, yes, we had llama meatballs. All the kids loved them, although their opinions changed slightly when they found out what they had eaten...

We then took a drive around some of the neighboring towns before returning to the hotel for some resting time before heading out on an evening tour of Riobamba, the largest city in the area. Our local guide, David, had a surprise for us. This was not going to be a normal walking tour. Instead, he had gotten us a chiva, an open-aired bus, with a band playing on top with flashing lights all around. When the original embarrassment wore off, we had a great time, smiling at the people as we drove around, and the Montana boys in our group had a competition to see who could get the most high five's from the passerbys. It was definitely a fun way to see the city and observe the people. Halfway through, we stopped and got off the bus, but the party wasn't over yet! The band continued to play and  David got us all dancing around on the sidewalk in the main plaza. People stopped at clapped with the music, watching us all have a good time. He then explained a little of the history of the city and the fight of the Ecuadorian people for their independence, and then it was back on the chiva to see the rest of the city before jumping back onto our normal bus to head back to the hotel for dinner.

It was definitely an interesting day, seeing the old and new way of life in Ecuador. Tomorrow, we head back to the community to participate in some of the activites the people do on a regular basis. This might involve a little gardening, kitchen work, etc. We will also have the opportunity to interact with the children who live in the community. I am excited to see our students interact with theirs, and to see how much of their Spanish they will use. Afterwards, we are heading back to Quito to prepare for our early morning departure on Thursday. Before we know it, we will be back in the States.

Hasta mañana...

Viajando

Today we started on our extension as we said goodbye to our travelmates from Canada, Florida, and Washington. We began our journey south with a quick stop at the town of Salcedo, which is famous for its ice cream. It was so delicious and creamy, with flavors such as chocolate, Oreo, and avocado, or the traditional leveled ice cream of strawberry, blackberry, vanilla cream, naranjilla, and taxo, which are two tropical fruits we have discovered here. I can best describe the look of these ice creams as the candy corns we get around Halloween...but on a stick. After loading up on ice cream and snacks, we were back on the road.

We then made a stop at Quisapincha, a small town known for its leather works. We spent some time touring the small town and looking at some of the wares for sale, Afterwards, we started out again for San Andres and our hotel. As I sit here and type, I can look out the window and see the peak of Chimborazo, the highest peak in Ecuador. Although this volcano has been dormant for some time, it still has an impact that we are sleeping at the base of a volcano.

After lunch at the hotel, we were back on the bus for a short ride to Guano, a nearby town. (yes, that word means what you think it  means.) We visited a local museum with a mummy of a Franciscan friar who was sealed in the wall of the Church he helped found, climbed to the op of the town, where one hundred steps never were so...breathtaking, at this altitude, looked at some beautifully decorated carpets which the town is known for, and also tried some chola, a bread filled with sugar cane syrup. As us girls were walking around, we managed to pick up one of the stray dogs that are found in many of these towns. The dog followed us from shop to shop, patiently waiting outside. She also became protective of us rather quickly, barking and growling with raised hair at anyone who had the luck of passing our group on the street. After taking a group photo with our Pepito/Oreo, we were back on the bus and heading towards the hotel.

The town we are staying in is small and quiet, and everything is closed up as everyone settles in for the night. It is a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the other cities we have stayed in. On the negative side, there is no wifi and no or very little cellphone service, so we are taking turns using the one hotel computer to communicate. So, if we are radio silent for a few days, that is why! Also, I am not sure if it has made the news in the States, but please know that we are safe from the volcano that is erupting in Ecuador, though we can see the ash and smoke in the air.

Tomorrow we are exploring the city of Riobamba and also experiencing an indigenous village, where people still live in the same way as their ancestors did years before. Hopefully I will be able to write tomorrow as well, but, if not, I will when we return to Quito on Wednesday.

Hasta luego...

El Cotopaxi...y chocolate

Cotopaxi in Quechua (the language of the Incas) means neck of the moon, because in October, the moon rests on top of the volcano, making it to look like a man with moon for a head and the rest of the mountain as a poncho. Words cannot describe the beauty of standing at the base of the mountain and looking up, seeing the clouds swirl around the top, revealing a snow covered peak. But, I am getting ahead of myself.

After a restful night's sleep at the hotel, we ate breakfast at the hotel, and we were off. About forty-five minutes into our journey, we stopped to grab some snacks/water and examine some of the wares of some indigenous people in front of the store and restaurant. Many bought colorful alpaca scarves or canvas paintings of some of the legends and celebrations of the indigenous people. We also had the opportunity to grab a photo and besito from Pepito, the llama. We then continued on our journey up to 12,000 ft at the Cotopaxi National Park. When we were driving up, Victor our guide and Bolívar our driver noticed the clouds clearing from the peak so we pulled over and frantically took pictures before the clouds blew over it again. Pictures and descriptions cannot give an accurate picture of how small I felt while standing there.

We then continued on our trek to our hiking destination, passing wild horses and various backpackers and bicyclists until we arrived at a lagoon. We went with a local guide on a forty-five minute hike around the lagoon, showing us different flowers and plants that are used for medicinal purposes, and giving us great opportunities for more pictures of Cotopaxi. We also learned that Cotopaxi is the second highest active volcano in the Andes. Scientists monitoring the seismic activity determined that it might be due for an eruption soon, to follow the historical pattern, but we completed our day without experiencing that! It was a brisk hike, with a fierce wind in some places. Some of us felt the altitude at some points, when even a little incline left us gasping for breath. At the end of the hike, Victor asked us to pause and reflect on the beauty of the day. He had us close our eyes and just hear and feel nature, and, if we believe, God. It was a very calming experience; even though we were close to the main road in and out of the park, there were no motor noises during those two minutes of reflection. We have learned a lot about Pachamama, Mother Earth, during this trip, and all that the Ecuadorian people have done and are currently doing to protect her. Atahualpa, the last Inca ruler was ultimately killed because he refused to believe God was just in the Bible, so strong was his belief in God creating the world around him. Recycling is so important here now, and every restaurant has a system for recycling plastic, glass, paper, and then organic material.

The bus then took as down the mountain a bit, reaching the Cafetería where we would eat lunch. On the way, Victor had explained to us that this was a very special lunch. Usually, they have ham and cheese sandwiches with potato chips for us, but today we got a more authentic lunch. We started with locro de patata, a warm potato soup with queso fresco, a slice of avocado, and cilantro. We then had choclo con queso, corn on the cob with cheese. It was a filling lunch, topped off with mini cookies and té de coca, which the natives use to combat the altitude. It was a perfect ending to an excursion filled with ll the beauty nature has to offer.

On the way back to the city, Victor gave us samplings of the finest Ecuadorian chocolate, coming in at 77%. He had three different kinds for us to try, and we all plan to purchase some at the grocery store before heading back to the States. We ended the day with another stop at the Artesanía market, where we bought a few more souvenirs.

Tomorrow, we head to Riobamba and indigenous villages. It is basically a few days of travel with a few stops along the way. We then spend two nights there before heading back to Quito for a short night's sleep before our early flight home. As long as the next hotel has wifi, I will tell you of our adventures with the indigenous people. Tonight, we say goodbye to two of our groups, as only two of e four are continuing with the extension.

Hasta luego...

Quito...otra vez

Today we returned to Quito. Before heading to the airport on the islands, we went to the highest point on Santa Cruz, where we saw "Los Gemelos," the Twin Craters, from the volcanoes that used to be active on the island. They were gigantic, but it was hard for me to imagine them as actual craters, since they are now covered with vegetation and are an important breeding ground for the finches on the island. Then, we head to the Santa Cruz port to take a short boat ride to Baltra, which houses the airport. As we were leaving on the boat, a few pelicans were flying next to us, as if to give us a proper send off. I couldn't resist talking to them, saying, "Adiós." We then flew back to Quito and made our way to our next hotel, which is absolutely gorgeous and just a block down from our first hotel. We had dinner at a local restaurant of peppered steak, French fries, salad, and fruit for dessert.

Although we were sad to leave the Galápagos, I think everyone is eager to give their bodies a rest from the beating they took on the choppy seas on the boat rides. Also, we still have a volcano to climb and indigenous villages to explore before heading back to the States.

Well, it is definitely bedtime. A day of flying, and there are 12,000 feet of elevation to climb tomorrow, so rest is important!

Hasta mañana...

Isla Isabela...que bonita

Today was our last island excursion, this time to the largest island, Isabela, shaped like a seahorse. We followed the same pattern to which we have become accustomed: walk to the pier, get on the taxi boat, alternating the seating pattern from side to side to distribute the weight, go out to the boat, take a two hour boat ride to the island, taxi, pier.

After arriving on Isabela, we took smaller boats on a cruise around the island, where we saw our long-awaited penguins, along with more blue-footed boobies, herons, and, of course, our playful sea lions. We got off the boats on a small island of "aa" lava, home to the marine iguanas. We took a forty-five minute walk, viewing the iguanas in their home. Even though we had a path to follow, we still had to watch our step, as the marine iguanas did not follow the rules of where the path wandered. These creatures were everywhere, scurrying about, taking a dip, and climbing on top of each other to keep warm and raise their temperature before going back into the sea. My favorite picture of the day is a marine iguana just hanging out as a lizard sits in his head.

At the end of our walk, we came upon a small, narrow channel that is home to some sharks. These are resting sharks, relying on the current of the channel to give them enough movement in their gills, so most of the time they are just relaxing on the bottom. In their bodies, they feel the pulses of the fish when they need to feed. The funniest of all, however, is looking down into the channel and seeing the rocks move, because they are covered with hundreds of these iguanas!

After reboarding the boat, we went out and snorkeled again. This was more shallow than yesterday's expedition and very clear. We had the opportunity to see our sea lions and turtles again, along with so many different kinds of colorful fish. We also saw a variety of starfish resting on the bottom. When I return to the States with strong wifi, I am definitely researching all the fish I saw. I grew up with seeing trout and bass, so these fish just blew me away. I just can't describe the feeling of swimming along, looking at the rocks and coral just a few feet below, when all of a sudden the bottom of the sea just opens up, displaying all that it has to offer, from fish big and small to our ever present sea lions. I don't know how I am going to adjust to coming home and not seeing a sea lion every time I turn a corner.

We then boarded a bus and head up to Flamingo Lagoon, to see an area where the local population keeps a brackish water pool for them to enjoy. A few minutes later we went into the town for lunch, ending with jello with a coconut whipped cream topping, and then went to the white sand beach to climb a lookout, see more marine iguanas, and enjoy the sun and water. When boarding the bus to go back to the pier for departure, we automatically boarded the bus, alternating where we sat, even though there was no fear of the bus tipping over like a boat...

It was a bumpy ride back, but the views and experiences on Isabela were worth it. These days in the sun and water have definitely worn us out, and we are calling it an earlier night than normal, but not until after a short, last walk around town for some purchases. Tomorrow, we head up to the highest part of the island before heading to the airport and back to the mainland. We will then spend two nights in a Quito hotel while exploring the Cotopaxi National Park. Hopefully it will have wifi as well, to stay in touch.

Hasta luego...

Tortugas, lobos marinos, cangrejos, iguanas y peces

After writing last night, we had a fabulous dinner of either fish or chicken, and then our Spring-Ford group spent the rest of the night exploring around the hotel. This island is full of life and completely safe at all hours. As the local guides have said, "Why would we do something bad? There is no where for us to go." Of course, we are still aware of our surroundings, but it is nice to have that extra security. We explored the pier and saw sharks and sea lions swimming, and posed with a pelican who was content with allowing us to snap as many pictures as we wanted. We then walked around and did some shopping before stopping for an ice cream on the way back to the hotel. I love having a small group of students on this trip that just want to participate and take advantage of the opportunities this trip has to offer. And, they are getting comfortable enough to use their Spanish! Yes, even our German student Dani is using Spanish to communicate. :-)

Today was the day of the boats, and I am sure tomorrow will feel the same. After breakfast at the hotel, we took a walk to the same pier as the night before for our departure to Floreana Island. We took a small taxi boat out to the main boat and started the hour and a half ride to the island. This is,and is mostly vacant of civilization, home to only 123 people. After taking some pictures on the dock of the first of many sea lions we would see that day, we took an open air bus up into the hills to tie a short hike to see the tortoises in a more natural habitat. Long ago, the Spanish and other explorers took the original species from the island, both as food and as pets, so the Darwin Foundation is trying to reintroduce tortoises and other animals to the island. The tortoises are in a large corral, to be monitored and encourage breeding. Tortoises have many natural predators, mostly because of their eggs, so they are trying to protect the tortoises. During our hike, we also learned about the history and lore of the island, including the ghostly whistles that can be heard, and the dentist who removed his teeth and those of his wife upon arriving on the island, and the prisoners who used to serve their time on the island. It was an interesting tale that only added to the beauty of this island. After a delicious lunch at the, what I believe to be one, restaurant on the island, we had time to swim and explore the black beach, from the volcanic stones. Some swam while others took pictures of the mother and baby sea lion playing and kissing on the side of the beach. 

Then, it was time for a short boat ride out for snorkeling. After going through the inspection station again, to make sure we weren't carrying any organic material from one island to another, we completed the taxi shuffle again and the short ride for snorkeling. It was my first time snorkeling, and everything simply took my breath away. While exploring under the water, the sea lions were so playful, spinning and twirling, swimming just a few feet away. The green sea turtles were so interesting to watch, as they ate the algae off the rocks and occasionally surfaced. The colors of the fish were so diverse and varied, from bright blue, to black with colored specks, to a striped, zebra pattern. A few of us swam down for a closer look, while the boys filmed everything they saw with the Go Pro cameras. Those videos will definitely be something to see. After about forty five minutes, we returned to the boat and rode a bumpy sea back to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and our hotel. We have some free time before dinner, so most of snagging a shower, and we plan to go out exploring again after dinner.

Tomorrow we head to Isabela Island for more exploring, hiking, and snorkeling. We are certainly enjoying our time in this little paradise.

Hasta mañana